2385-S AMH ROME DINE 74

SHB 2385 - H AMD 0234 Adopted 2-16-02

By Representative Romero

     Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

     "Sec. 1.  RCW 38.52.040 and 1995 c 269 s 1202 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) (a) There is hereby created the emergency management council (hereinafter called the council), to consist of ((not more than seventeen)) members who shall be appointed by the governor.  The membership of the council shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of city and county governments, sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington state patrol, the military department, the department of ecology, state and local fire chiefs, local public health agencies, seismic safety experts, state and local emergency management directors, search and rescue volunteers, medical professions who have expertise in emergency medical care, building officials, ((and)) private industry, and other members the governor deems necessary.  The representatives of private industry shall include persons knowledgeable in emergency and hazardous materials management.

(b) In addition to the members specified in subsection (1) of this section, the council shall include four legislative members appointed by the governor to serve as nonvoting advisory members of the council.  The legislative members shall be appointed as follows:

(i) Two members shall be appointed from the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives, based on the recommendations of the speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives; and

(ii) Two members shall be appointed from the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses in the senate, based on the recommendations of the senate majority leader and minority leader.

(2) The council members shall elect a chairman from within the council membership.  The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but legislative members may be reimbursed  in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and nonlegislative members may be reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 ((as now existing or hereafter amended)).

     (((2))) (3) The emergency management council shall advise the governor and the director on all matters pertaining to state and local emergency management.  The council may appoint such ad hoc committees, subcommittees, and working groups as are required to develop specific recommendations for the improvement of emergency management practices, standards, policies, or procedures.  The council shall ensure that the governor receives an annual assessment of state-wide emergency preparedness including, but not limited to, specific progress on hazard mitigation and reduction efforts, implementation of seismic safety improvements, reduction of flood hazards, and coordination of hazardous materials planning and response activities. 

(4) The council or a subcommittee thereof shall periodically convene in special session and serve during those sessions as the state emergency response commission required by P.L. 99-499, the emergency planning and community right-to-know act.  When sitting in session as the state emergency response commission, the council shall confine its deliberations to those items specified in federal statutes and state administrative rules governing the coordination of hazardous materials policy.  The council shall review administrative rules governing state and local emergency management practices and recommend necessary revisions to the director."

EFFECT: (1) Changes the composition of the Emergency Management Council to include four legislative members and a representative of local public health agencies. (2) Makes the four legislative members nonvoting advisory members and specifies their appointment process.  (3) Eliminates the 17-member maximum and allows the Governor to appoint other members as needed.  (4) References statutory provisions for travel reimbursements for legislative members.